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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING
At the end of each field season, we reflect on lessons learned as we begin the process of
planning for the next field season. Information and guidance from volunteers, project advisors,
project partners, and project staff helps us compile best practices for remote camera monitoring
in Washington. These recommendations improve the efficacy, efficiency, and power of our
work.
Already being assessed and incorporated into the 2014 Spring-Fall monitoring season are
specific recommendations. In 2014, CWMP will:
- Review of protocols and training documents to ensure they are up to date and include
the most relevant remote camera methods; and add detailed protocols for placing hair
snare devices and scent lures at sites.
- Continue to focus on wolverine sites in areas that can be monitored safely year-round.
This year, some sites designated for wolverine detection were located where winter
access was too dangerous or difficult to navigate.
- Continue to move south for wolf monitoring in areas such as the Gifford Pinchot
National Forest.
- Reach out to colleges and universities to engage upcoming wildlife professionals in
wildlife monitoring in the state.
- Ensure early coordination with other monitoring efforts throughout our coverage area
both professional and citizen.
- Develop a new strategy to provide volunteer and coordination capacity to build off of
pilot year effort in the Rossland Range in British Columbia to study wildlife in this
transboundary region, and compliment with monitoring on the Washington side of the
border in the Kettles as well.
- Create a new data management system to facilitate data exchange between volunteers
and project staff. On both the volunteer end and the project staff end, data management
has become difficult and inefficient. Given the availability of new wildlife monitoring
methods and technologies, our system should be updated to maintain accuracy and
efficiency.
- Provide expanded opportunities for connections between volunteers and other ongoing
wildlife field research in our state, and field skill trainings.
As we plan for the 2013-2014 Winter monitoring season and the 2014 Spring-Fall monitoring
season, we will continue discussions with project staff, volunteers, and our Advisory Council to
ascertain improvements and recommendations for the Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project.
